Improvement in apparatus for blacking the edges of leather



J. G. MQGARTER. atus for Blacking the Edges of Leather.

Appar 4 A i w M aw N nm W NFETERS, PHOTWUTHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. M'CGARTER, ,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR BLACKING THE EDGES 0F LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,965, datedSeptember 23, 1879; application filed August 14, 1879.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. MOOARTER, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Blacking the Edges ofSheets and Strips of Leather, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide convenient and efi'ectivemeans for applying blacking to the cut edges of strips or sheets ofleather that is dressed and colored on its outer surface.

The invention is especially intended for blacking the cut edges ofseam-covering stays and pieces of upper leather forboots and shoes, togive said edges a color corresponding to the outer surface of theleather, and obviate the necessity of turning inthe leather to concealthe cut edges.

The invention consists in an organized apparatus, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, whereby cut edges can be neatly and expeditiouslyblacked without wasting the blackin g, or spreading the same on portionsof theleather which it is not desirable to blacken.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a top view of an apparatus embodying my invention.Fig. 2 represents a section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a sectionalview of a modification. Fig. 4 represents a perspective View of anothermodification. Fig. 5 represents a section of the sponge conductor.

Similar letters of reference refer to same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A representsa reservoir, of any suitable construction,adapted to receive liquid blacking. B represents a conductor, of spongeor other material adapted to raise a liquid by capillary action. Saidconductor is contained in a shell or tube, 0, which is secured to thereservoir A, and projects through the top of the same, and is providedin its upper or outer end with a lateral opening, D. The lower portionof the conductor B is immersed in the liquid blacking in the reservoir,and its upper portion extends to the outer end of the tube and entirelyfills the latter, so that a portion of its surface is exposed throughthe opening D.

E represents a flat supporting-surface, which is about flush with thelower edge of the opening D, and is, preferably, a part of the top ofthe reservoir. Said surface supports theleather to be blacked, andallows the edge of the leather to be pressed against the portion of theconductor that is exposed by the opening D.

It will be understood that when the edge of the leather is drawn alongwhen in contact with the blacking-saturated conductor, said edge willreceive a coat of blackin g from the conductor, and the latter, beingconfined by the tube 0 around the opening D, will not project over andblacken the sides of the piece of leather. The side of the tube in whichthe opening D is made is either curved, as, shown in Fig. 1, or angular,as shown in Fig. 3, so that the conductor will project outwardly beyondthe ends of the opening. The angular form is preferable when the edge tobe blacked is curved, scalloped, or angular, as it hold-s the conductorin such form that it can enter angles and curves in the leather, whichwould be inaccessible to the conductor when held in the form of tubeshown in Fig. 1. The latter form is preferable in operating on straightedges, as it affords a more extended surface of the conductor for theleather to bear against or upon.

In blacking the edges of a seam-covering stay or other strip of leatherhaving two parallel edges, I prefer to construct the apparatus, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, to black both edges of the strip simultaneously, theapparatus being provided with two conductors, B B, and inclosing-tubes OC, said tubes having the openings D D in their proximate sides, as shownin Fig. 2. The distance between the exposed surfaces of the conductorsis such that they will act simultaneously on the edges of a strip, 8,drawn between them.

I prefer to provide guides g g on the tops of the reservoir to guide thestrip 8 as it passes to or from the conductors B B.

To enable strips of different widths to be operated on by the sameapparatus, I make the tubes (l 0 adjustable to and from each other byany suitable means, preferably by connecting the tubes at a a byspring-arms c to the bottom of the reservoir, so that they can beinclined toward or from each other, and providing wedges b 1) betweenthe upper ends of the tubes and suitable bearings on the reservoir,whereby said tubes may be displaced or forced inwardly from thepositions in which they are held by the spring-arms. The top of theresei voir is provided with openings, through which the tubes pass, andsaid openings are of sufficient size to permit the described movementsof the tubes. If desired, only one of the tubes may be made adjustable.

To prevent the conductor from spreading the blanking over the sides ofthe leather, as it is likely to do to some extent when made ofsponge, Icover the portion exposed by the openingD with any suitable cloth, 0,which will permit the passage of the blacking and present a smoothsurface to the leather. The cloth is preferably applied by tying itaround the tube to cover the opening D, as shown in Fig. 4.

I do not limit myself to the location of the reservoir below the portionof the conductor that acts on the leather, as said reservoir may beelevated above the conductor, if desired, and connected to the latter bya suitable tube.

By this arrangement the hydraulic pressure of the liquid blackinginsures the complete saturation of the conductor.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a means for applying liquid blacking tothe edges of strips or pieces of leather, a reservoir for the blacking,a conductor com municating with said reservoir, and a shell or tube tohold the conductor, and provided with an opening to expose a portion ofthe conductor to the leather, as set forth.

2. In an organized apparatus for applying blacking to the edges ofstrips of leather, the

combination of a conductor communicating with a reservoir, a shell ortube holding the conductor and provided with an opening to expose theconductor to the leather, and means for supporting a strip of leatherand presenting only the edge of the latter to the portion of theconductor that is exposed by the opening of the tube, as set forth.

3. An organized apparatus for applying blacking to two edges of a stripof leather, consisting of a reservoir, two conductors extending from theinterior to the exterior of said reservoir, two shells or tubes to holdthe conductors, provided in the proximate sides of their outer portionswith openings to expose the conductors to the leather, and adapted to beadjusted to operate on strips of difl'erent widths, as set forth.

4. In an organized apparatus for applying liquid blacking to the edgesof leather, the combination of a conductor entering a suit? ablereservoir, a tube or holder holding said conductor and provided with anopening in its outer portion, and a layer of textile fabric covering theopening in the tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses this 6th day of August, 1879.

JOHN G. MOOARTER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. W001), O. F. BROWN.

